PLDT and Smart Boost Bohol Network, Fire Up 11 New Sites

PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to expand its 4G/LTE network in Bohol with 11 new sites activated in the municipalities of Maribojoc and Antequera. This expansion supports the PLDT Group’s commitment to advancing the government’s digitalization thrust and improving connectivity across the country.

Maribojoc and Antequera play important roles in Bohol’s economy and cultural heritage. Maribojoc serves as a key fisheries hub and is home to ecotourism destinations that showcase the town’s rich coastal and inland resources. Meanwhile, Antequera is renowned for its basket-weaving industry, which provides livelihood opportunities for local communities while preserving traditional craftsmanship and cultural identity.

This latest network rollout enhances connectivity and communication services for Smart and its value brand TNT and is expected to boost livelihood, tourism, education, and disaster resilience in these Bohol towns.

“For a long time, connectivity has been a challenge in some parts of these municipalities. With the activation of these new sites, we are enabling our constituents to stay connected, supporting their daily activities, livelihoods, and access to online education for our learners in time for the opening of classes. We thank Smart for supporting our digitalization efforts in the district,” said Bohol 1st District Representative John Geesnell “Baba” Yap.

Among those benefiting from the improved network is Monina Dela Cruz, 40, a sari-sari store owner from Barangay Bantolinao in Antequera and a newly onboarded Smart Ka-partner retailer. “Because of the improved signal in our area, I now have an additional source of income. I’m thankful for this opportunity and to be able to help my neighbors with their load needs,” she said.

Beyond providing livelihood opportunities, Dela Cruz also highlighted the importance of reliable connectivity during emergencies and natural disasters, enabling residents to seek assistance, communicate with loved ones, and access critical information when needed.

Katherine Bustaliño, a barangay councilor from Barangay Lagtangan in Maribojoc, also expressed her gratitude for this network expansion. “This will greatly benefit our community. Whether for work, school, or business, we can now stay connected more easily through Smart and TNT’s enhanced connectivity and value-packed offers,” she said.

“As a telco company, our mission is to connect every Filipino. We want places like Antequera and Maribojoc to be more visible, not only across Bohol, but to the rest of the country and the world. We hope residents make the most of these new cell sites, and it is truly heartening to see the appreciation and support from the communities we serve,” said Debbie Hu, FVP and Group Head of Smart Wireless Network.

Smart’s continued investments in its network infrastructure are aligned with the PLDT Group's efforts to deliver reliable and high-quality service to its customers. This also supports PLDT and Smart’s commitment to helping the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly UNSDG No. 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Globe CEO Carl Cruz Says the Future of AI Starts with People, Trust, and Purpose at MWC Shanghai 2026

Globe took the global stage at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2026, where President and CEO Carl Cruz gave the keynote speech during the opening plenary. He joined Vivek Badrinath of Vodafone Group, Chen Zhongyue of China Mobile, Zhang Zhiyong of China Telecom, Wang Tao of Huawei, and John Hoffman of the GSMA to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of connectivity and the telecommunications industry.

During the keynote, he shared Globe's vision for becoming an AI-powered organization, emphasizing that AI's true value lies not in the technology itself but in how it improves lives and creates meaningful outcomes for customers, employees, businesses, and communities. "The conversation is no longer about whether organizations should adopt AI. The challenge is how we scale it responsibly and ensure that the benefits extend beyond business outcomes to the people we serve," said Cruz.

Cruz noted that the Philippines is well positioned to benefit from AI, given the country's high level of digital engagement. With nearly 97.5 million internet users, 142 million mobile connections, and 90.8 million social media user identities, Filipinos are already deeply connected and increasingly comfortable using digital technologies in everyday life.

For Globe, AI is an extension of its mission to improve lives through technology. The company sees AI as a tool that can help people become more productive, learn new skills, grow their businesses, and access more relevant digital experiences.

Building on this vision, Globe established a dedicated AI Group in 2024 and appointed its first Chief AI Officer, Anton Bonifacio, who now serves as Chief Intelligence and Trust Officer. The move brought together AI, data, cybersecurity, and data privacy under a unified leadership structure, reinforcing Globe's commitment to advancing innovation while maintaining trust and accountability. To scale AI responsibly across the enterprise, Globe continues to strengthen core drivers including data readiness, technology modernization, process transformation, AI fluency, and security and trust.

The company also focused on democratizing AI within the organization by providing employees access to tools, training, and safe environments to experiment. These efforts have resulted in more than 260 AI use cases, from live solutions to initiatives still being developed. Together, these use cases help foster a culture where innovation can emerge from teams closest to customers and day-to-day operations. To scale that momentum, Globe is using a hub-and-spoke model that combines centralized expertise, governance, and reusable capabilities with business-led innovation closer to the edge.

As Globe continues to scale its AI capabilities, it is concentrating on four strategic areas: hyper-personalization, customer experience, intelligent networks, and new products and services. These priorities are designed to help the company deliver more relevant customer experiences, improve operational performance, strengthen network responsiveness, and unlock new sources of growth.

"AI is not an end in itself. It is a means to serve customers better, make smarter decisions, strengthen our competitiveness, and unlock new growth opportunities," Cruz said. "As a technology and telecommunications company, we believe we are only beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible. The possibilities are immense, and we are just getting started.”

HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 Racing Legend, Now in PH: A Legendary New Colorway for PHP 19,999

Manila, Philippines — Global tech brand HUAWEI recently expanded its WATCH GT Runner 2 series, co-developed with King of Marathon Eliud Kipchoge, as it unveiled the all-new Racing Legend edition. Now available for PHP 19,999, the smartwatch combines refreshed aesthetics with accurate positioning technology, comprehensive insights, and AI-powered marathon intelligence. The HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 Racing Legend also features a redesigned watch face and a four-tone AirDry nylon strap in Dark Blue, Red, White, and Green.

Buyers purchasing from June 30 to July 31 can enjoy exclusive freebies worth up to PHP 11,384. This bundle includes a free fluoroelastomer strap worth PHP 1,999, a free HUAWEI FreeArc worth PHP 4,999 (available on a first-come, first-served basis), a three-month HUAWEI Health+ Membership worth PHP 387, and a two-year warranty package (one-year standard warranty plus one-year extended warranty) with two years of Accidental Damage Protection worth PHP 3,999. Customers can also take advantage of a PHP 2,000 trade-in token.

The device is now available at HUAWEI Experience Stores nationwide, the HUAWEI Online Store, and HUAWEI’s official stores on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

PLDT, Smart and DITO Partner to Expand Network Coverage Through Landmark Infrastructure Sharing Agreement

PLDT Inc., Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and DITO Telecommunity signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pursue strategic resource-sharing initiatives aimed at expanding network coverage and delivering more reliable connectivity for customers across the country.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across three key areas of telecommunications infrastructure through reciprocal resource sharing, with no monetary exchange between the parties. Under the reciprocal macro site access arrangement, the parties will grant one another reciprocal rights to use eligible tower sites. The MOU also covers in-building solution (IBS) colocation, enabling the parties to share telecommunications infrastructure within commercial buildings and other indoor locations, and submarine cable capacity through Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) arrangements, allowing both companies to optimize the use of existing international connectivity assets. By maximizing existing infrastructure, the partnership will expand network coverage, enhance service reliability, and deliver a better connectivity experience for customers across the country.

"Connecting the country is a responsibility that we all share as Philippine telcos. This agreement reflects that, even as we compete in the marketplace, we can collaborate where it matters the most: accelerating digital inclusion, helping connect every Filipino, and creating greater opportunities for our people and our nation," said Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT Chairman and CEO.

“This partnership that we are forging today is a modest one. This allows both companies to deliver much better services for all our respective customers. May this partnership usher in and blossom into many more things so that we can have meaningful results for our companies, and more importantly, for the betterment of services for all our respective customers.” Mr. Eric Alberto, President and CEO of DITO Telecommunity, added.

The agreement reflects the parties' shared commitment to strengthening the country's digital infrastructure through greater industry collaboration. Rather than building separate infrastructure in the same locations, PLDT, Smart, and DITO will maximize the use of existing macro sites and in-building facilities, reducing unnecessary duplication of network investments. This enables the companies to deploy capital more efficiently, accelerate network expansion, and deliver broader coverage and more reliable connectivity for Filipino consumers while supporting a more resilient and future-ready telecommunications ecosystem.

Globe Strengthens Resilient Digital Infrastructure While Making Connectivity More Affordable for Filipinos

As communities across the Philippines become more dependent on digital access for work, education, livelihood, and essential services, Globe continues to strengthen the foundations that help keep people connected while building a more resilient and sustainable future. Through its 2025 Integrated Report, Globe highlights how investments in network modernization, climate action, operational efficiency, and innovation are helping create long-term value not only for the business but for the communities it serves.

Entitled “Foundations for the Future: Building Resilience Through a Connected Nation,” the report demonstrates how Globe is embedding sustainability into its long-term strategy as it expands coverage, improves affordability, and strengthens operational resilience amid evolving climate and business risks. The report also reflects Globe’s continued efforts to align with emerging global sustainability disclosure standards while advancing meaningful environmental and social impact.

Building Long-Term Resilience Through Connectivity

For many Filipinos, connectivity today goes beyond convenience. Reliable mobile and internet access can help families stay connected, support students learning online, enable small businesses to grow, and provide communities with access to emergency information and digital services, especially in geographically isolated areas.

To advance digital inclusion, Globe extended its 4G coverage to 96.41% of the population in 2025 while continuing to improve network access in underserved communities. Alongside broader coverage, the company also pushed affordability initiatives that helped make connectivity more accessible to more Filipinos.

Between 2019 and 2025, the price per gigabyte of Globe’s most popular mobile data plans dropped by nearly 60%, including a further 17% decrease from 2024 to 2025. Globe also improved affordability for home connectivity, with prepaid fiber rates declining by 50% from 2022 to 2024 and its lowest postpaid fiber plan reduced by 75%, while customers now enjoy speeds that are four times faster than those offered at the same cost in 2022.

As connectivity becomes increasingly essential in everyday life, the company continues to invest in future-ready infrastructure and conduct upskilling to help more Filipinos become safer online, more digitally savvy, and better able to participate in the digital economy.

Advancing Climate Action and Operational Efficiency

At the same time, Globe continues to strengthen its climate action efforts as part of its broader resiliency strategy. The company reported a 15% year-on-year reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and a 9% reduction in Scope 3 emissions in 2025, exceeding its annual reduction targets.

Renewable energy also continues to play a growing role in Globe’s operations, with 34% of the company’s total energy consumption now coming from renewable energy. This keeps Globe on track toward its target of reaching 42% renewable energy usage by 2030.

These efforts continue to help Globe build a more resilient network amid evolving climate, energy, and economic challenges while supporting its broader decarbonization roadmap.

Strengthening Transparency and Sustainability Readiness

The report also underscores Globe’s continued efforts to strengthen sustainability governance and disclosure readiness. Globe has started aligning with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards, particularly IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures.

To contribute to the broader private sector's readiness for transparent reporting, Ms. Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, now serves as the Management Association of the Philippines representative to the Philippine Sustainability Reporting Council (PSRC). This body is dedicated to issuing local implementation guidance and evaluating sustainability disclosure standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

Globe’s Integrated Report includes externally assured environmental and social metrics, verified greenhouse gas emissions data, and the results of its first Double Materiality Assessment. By evaluating both the outside-in impact of environmental and social issues on business performance and the inside-out impact of the company's operations on communities and the environment, this assessment allows Globe to better manage risks, identify opportunities, and strengthen long-term value creation.

“Our responsibility goes beyond delivering connectivity. As digital access becomes more essential in people’s everyday lives, we need to ensure that the way we grow our business also strengthens resilience, creates long-term value, and contributes positively to communities and the environment,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer. “Sustainability helps guide how we operate and innovate so we can continue serving Filipinos responsibly while preparing the business for the future.”

Visit the Globe website for more information and access the 2025 Globe Integrated Report here.